Path of Exile 2 Interview - Page 3
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GB: Now, usually hack 'n' slash action-RPGs aren't exactly known for their intricate stories, but I feel like you guys did a great job creating Path of Exile's world and all the characters we meet along the way. So, is there anything you can share about the sequel's story at this point?
CW: Thanks! With Path of Exile 2's story, we're wanting to create a more personal, claustraphobic experience which relies less on killing gods. We're quite excited to reset the "epicness creep" that occurred over time with the original Path of Exile campaign.
Path of Exile 2 is set 20 years after the original game and is initially set in a part of Wraeclast that players will be unfamiliar with. After narrowly escaping execution for unknown reasons, players must discover what has caused the change in behaviour of the local townspeople and wildlife. Their journey will take them all across Wraeclast, to locations both new and familiar.
GB: You also seem to have a knack for finding great voice actors, and Path of Exile's early chapters feature a lot of these little story bits you get by clicking on various objects in the world. But unless I'm mistaken, the later chapters don't have any of those. Any chance we'll see more of them in the sequel?
CW: Acts 6-10 of Path of Exile's original storyline are a little sparse on "Story Glyphs" (as we call them) compared to the first five acts. Path of Exile 2's storyline contains many in each act, so players who enjoy hearing about the game's lore will have plenty to listen to.
GB: Another thing we don't see too often are non-linear quests like the Bandit Lord quest where we get to choose a side in a conflict between three bandits, with each side offering unique rewards. Will we get any more of those in Path of Exile 2?
CW: We can't confirm what surprises are present in Path of Exile 2 yet, but we enjoy this kind of quest because it lets players experience different options across different playthroughs (assuming we do a good job of balancing the rewards to be good for various different use cases).
GB: And finally, Path of Exile: Royale, an April Fools joke that ended up being surprisingly fun. I think I remember you mentioning at some point that you wanted to bring it back for some special events. With the sequel fast approaching, any chance Royale will be appearing there in some form?
CW: This is a popular request, and if we do bring it back, it's likely to be before the sequel is released (though it would be compatible with both of course).
We feel there's a set of relatively straightforward design work that would make Path of Exile: Royale quite a lot more fun. We plan to create a custom passive skill tree for Royale (which goes up to the level 12 or so that players expect to reach in a match), and to reimagine many of Path of Exile's skills and unique items as low-level versions appropriate for this mode. It's just a matter of finding time to work on it alongside all the other big projects like Path of Exile 2 and our ongoing three-month cycle of expansions for Path of Exile.
